Every Little Helps

Continued on with all the ideas we've implemented so far and also started using an in-car invertor purchased from B&Q at the weekend. This plugs into the power/cigarette socket in the car and allows gadgets/appliances to be run or charged from our cars battery from a normal 3-pin plug. So will now be charging mobile phones, tablets etc. whilst driving and not using any home energy! Two tips; firstly we won't be leaving the gadgets in the car to be stolen, and second, we will be checking and, if necessary, charging the car battery from time-to-time.

Also managed to get time to cut the grass today. However, instead of using any power we dug-out our push along cylinder mower. It took a little mower effort than normal but this was eased by the thought that it wasn't plugged-in! Plus Harry (our dog) helped (see pic.). They are the cheapest type of mower to buy and other than a firm push require no energy and only a little maintenance.

As we were outside, thought we would add a photo of our solar panels collecting lots of lovely sunshine (plus free electricity and the feed-in tariff).

Did our, now normal, eating out ("cooking co-operative" - owe a few meals now), shared bath in turns and then a board game (Buzzed Out tonight that ended in a draw - everyone happy!).

ESTIMATED ANNUAL SAVINGS
Less gadget charging                     £15
No power lawn mowing                £10
Reduced ironing                            £15
Hall energy saving light                £30
Front door solar light                    £30
Lined bedroom curtains                  £5
Cooking Co-operative                   £25
Dishwasher used only when full   £20
Bed half an hour earlier                 £25
Washing Machine at 30 deg C      £15
Reduced Heating & Hot Water     £50
Ditch the Tumble Dryer                £50
Still Less TV & Xbox                   £10
Total Annual Savings                  £300

ACTUAL SPEND (will add items in as we install them and estimate their savings)
Invertor                                          £20
Hall energy saving light                £27
Front door solar light                     £25
Lined bedroom curtains                 £10
Total spend                                    £82

Weather meant to change and get showery so ordered our indoor solution to not using the tumble dryer...    will give details when it arrives.

TTFN